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Ken Gargett

Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.

Riversdale Estate Brut Rosé NV

Tasmanian sparkling Rosé, made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, with the wine spending two and a half years on lees....

Riversdale Estate Shark Point Pinot Noir 2025

The vines for this pleasing Pinot Noir were planted in 1991. The colour is an attractive crimson/purple, while the nose...
Viognier

Tim Smith Viognier 2025

The fruit here comes from two different vineyards in the Eden Valley and maturation is in a mix of Hungarian...
Roussanne

Tim Smith Roussanne 2025

Maturation here was in older French oak barrels with the wine spending six months on lees. This variety has been...
Blanc

Tim Smith Bugalugs Blanc 2025

Something a bit different, at least for local palates, a blend of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne. Very much a...
MGS

Tim Smith MGS 2024

Mataro dominant blend, with support from both Grenache and Shiraz, the Mataro is believed to come from a very old...
Sp Sz

Majella Sparkling Shiraz 2023

Sparkling Shiraz from Coonawarra. Anyone feeling the holiday let-down as we slog through January can surely find a way to...
shiraz

Majella Shiraz 2021

We can start by declaring this sensational Coonawarra Shiraz as a serious contender for the best value red wine of...
malleea

Majella The Malleea 2021

The name is an Aboriginal term referring to ‘green paddock’ and is highly appropriate for the vineyards of Coonawarra. Majella...
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Majella GPL68 2017

The wine is a tribute to George Patrick Lynn who, in 1968, gave permission to his sons, Brian and Anthony,...
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Riposte En Garde Pinot Noir 2025

Rusted/garnet in hue, this has a pleasing and rather typical Pinot Noir nose, with notes of leaf litter, dried herbs,...
Sandpiper Pinot Gris nv

Thorn Clarke Eden Valley Sandpiper Pinot Gris 2025

Named after the migratory bird that visits the vineyards, for this thoroughly enjoyable Pinot Gris, the team use an airbag...
Shotfire Shiraz nv

Thorn Clarke Shotfire Collectors Heritage Edition Barossa Shiraz 2021

The team have dipped into the past to provide stocks of one of their favourite wines, from what just might...
Single Vineyard Shiraz

Thorn Clarke St Kitts Single Vineyard Selection Shiraz 2023

The Single Vineyard Selection program allows winemakers to play with small batch production from special sites that are particularly suited...
Single Vineyard Malbec

Thorn Clarke St Kitts Single Vineyard Selection Malbec 2024

Another in the Single Vineyard Selection program, from the north Barossa vineyard called St Kitts, this is definitely one of...
Winemakers Shiraz

Thorn Clarke William Randell Winemaker’s Small Batch Selection Barossa Shiraz 2021

It may sound like the proverbial broken record, but anyone who has not overstocked their cellar with the superb wines...
Lady William Randell Shiraz nv

Thorn Clarke Lady William Randell Barossa Shiraz 2020

Barossa Shiraz which has spent considerable time both maturing and in bottle in the cellar. Under cork. Dark maroon, this...
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Pirathon Clare Valley Riesling 2025

A classic Clare Valley Riesling with fruit from the Gaelic Cemetery Vineyard, situated in the northwest of the region. Yellow/green...
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Pirathon Barossa Valley Grenache Rosé 2025

From vineyards in the Tanunda sub-region of the Barossa, this is yet more evidence as to the versatility of Grenache....
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Pirathon Barossa Valley GSM 2024

This is the first GSM blend which the team have released under the Contour label. It is from fruit harvested...
pirathon blue

Pirathon Blue Label Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022

From the excellent 2022 vintage, the fruit hails from the Barossa Valley floor. Maturation was in a mix of French...
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Pirathon Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2022

This version of the famous Aussie red blend of Cab and Shiraz sees a blend of 55% Clare Valley Cabernet...
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Pirathon Gaelic Cemetery Celtic Farm Clare Valley Riesling 2025

Terrific value Clare Valley Riesling from a vintage which is shaping up as another excellent one. This wine tends to...
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Elderton Barossa Valley GSM 2025

This Barossa blend includes 46% Grenache, 27% Shiraz, 26% Mataro and just 1% of Carignan. It is the 10th release...

Stories

PEN La Chapelle Grange winemakers barrels

La Chapelle Grange 2022

The second release of this extraordinary Rhone/Aussie blend, crafted by two of the world’s great wineries, Jaboulet and Penfolds, has...
AMW Collection

Appellation Marlborough Wine Announces 2025 Annual Collection

A benchmark selection of certified Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) has announced its highly anticipated Annual Collection for...
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The Barossa Wine Guide 2026

By Ken Gargett, Andrew Caillard MW and Tony Love The Barossa is unquestionably Australia’s most famous wine region. Certainly not...
Penfolds Collection Credit Marten Ascenzo

Penfolds 2025 – Ken Gargett

Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2025 ($45)A classic Bin 51. It might be early days but this wine suggests...
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Penfolds 2023 – ‘The Aussies’

There is no release more anticipated by winelovers in Australia than the annual Penfold’s Collection and of course, most especially...

Artisans of the Barossa (2021 Grenache Project)

One of the more interesting projects currently afloat in Aussie wine at the moment, especially appropriate given the skyrocketing interest...
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